Casting apparatus.



PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908.

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PATENTED JUNE 30, 1908.

W. S. WESTON. CASTING APPARATUS;

APPLIOATIOH FILED DEC. 15. 1906.

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prises a p WILLIAM S. WESTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CASTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 30, 1908.

Application filed December 15, 1906. Serial No. 847,948.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. WESTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Casting Apparatus, of which do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification. 4

The resent invention has relation more particu arly to that class-of casting apparatus in which the casting is effected by means of a plurality of movable molds that are formed of separable sections, these sections being arranged to be brought together to receive the material from which the casting is to be made, and being adapted to be separated at the proper time in order to discharge the finished casting. An example of this type of casting apparatus is illustrated in Letters Patent No. 790,544 and No. 790,545, granted to me May 23, 1905.

The invention consists in the features of improvement hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanyin drawings and particularly pointed out in tire claims at the end of this specification.

Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an en larged plan view showing certain of the mold sections in position to receive their charge, parts being broken away for better illustration. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation of part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, cer tain portions being broken away for better illustration. Fig. 4 is a view in vertical cross-section on lines 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal section through the mold sections, this section being taken imme diately above the tops of the vent channels a on the line as of Flg. 3. 'Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line Y of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 shows a modified arrangement of the mold sections.

My improved castin apparatus comurality of mo ds formed of separable sections A and A, arranged to travel in two series, so that during a portion of their travel the mold sections A and A shall be brought to ether to form complete molds at the time t ecasting of the metal is to be effected, and shall be separated or moved apart when the castings are to be discharged from the molds. A distinctive feature of my invention is that each of the traveling molds is formed of more than two sections. The advantages obtained by this construction are first, an easier discharge of simple castings and second, the possibility of making and discharging castings of an irregular sha e which, if made in a two section mold won (1 interlock with the mold. These advantages arise from the fact that with a three part permanent mold, for example, the draft of the sections away from the castings can .be had in three directions, while the draft of the two part mold can be had in two directions only.

In the construction I have illustrated, the two series of mold sections A and A are so arranged that as they come together the parting lines between the mold sections A shall break joint with the mold sections A, and the mold cavities are each formed between one section A and the ends of two sections A.

The mold sections illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly in Fig. 5 thereof, have cavities ada ted to form brake shoes for railway car whee s, as clearly indicated by dotted lines in said figure of the drawings. To the cavities a of the mold sections, lead the gates a and from the cavities a lead the contracted vent channels a that communicate with channels a from which lead the vents a. T hese vents a open from the mold sections at some point below the upper ouring surface thereof,-so that danger of filing the vents before the cavity is filled shall be avoided; and, preferably, the vents a lead downwardly through the bottoms of the mold sections and their carriers, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Manifestly, however, the vents a may lead through the sides of the mold sections and carriers, as indicated by dotted lines a in Fig. 2 of the drawings. I

The upper portion of each of the mold sections Aand A is flared outwardly so that when the mold sections are brought to position to receive their charge of metal, the upper portions of the mold sections shall form a trough into which the metal may be poured and from which it will pass by the gates a to the cavities of the several mold sections. By this means a number of molds may be filled simultaneously. Preferably, although not necessarily, a dam or gate B is extended across the tops of the mold sections so as to limit the flow of fluid metal along the trough at the top of the molds and this dam or gate B willbe arranged at a distance from the delivery spout C, whereby the fluid metal will be poured into the 'trough above the molds, sufficient to enable several of the molds totbe filled at the same time.

The mold sections are formed of cast iron and the flared top of each mold section is provided with a lining D of refractory, nonchillin and non-corrosive material such, for examp e, as a mixture of clay and plumbago, like that commonly used in the manufacture of crucibles. The lining D extends from end to end of its mold section and is preferably held in place by forming the lining D with a depending rib d that-enters a corresponding" longitudinal groove formed in the upper por-' tion of the mold section A or A. To better hold the lining D in position, I prefer to em ploy a retaining plate E that may be attached to the top of the mold section by screws or in any other convenient manner, and this retaining plate E overlaps the top edge of the lining D, as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Each mold section is mounted upon a suitable mold carrier F that is provided with a bottom ortion extending underneath the mold section, and with an upper portion that extends along the outer side of the mold section. These mold carriers are arranged in two series, and the carriers of each series are connected together preferably by means of links G, and rods G, the links and rods being pivotally united at their outer ends to lugs f formed at the back of the mold carriers-F. The inner end of each of the links G is formed with a hole to receive a corresponding'inner end of rod G and within the open .portion ofthe link is placed a coil spring 9 that encircles the rod G and is held in place thereon by a nut 9 that bears against one end 'of the spring 9, while the opposite end of the spring bears against the perforated end of the link G. The springs 9 thus tend to hold the mold carriers and sections closely together, while allowing suflicient flexibility between the parts.

Above each series of mold carriers F is placed an upper guide rail H and below each series of mold carriers is arranged a lower.

guide rail H. These guide rails H and H are bolted to suitable supports or brackets K. In order to insure an easy movement of the series of mold carriers, each of the mold carriers is provided with anti-friction rollers M and M that are journaled upon bolts or studs m and m that extend from the lugs f 2 and f projecting from the outer face of each of the mold carriers. These anti-friction rollers M and M bear upon the outer face of the upper and lower guide rails H and H, as shown. In the bottoms of the mold carriers F are formed channels or cut-away spaces f in which are held anti-friction rollers N that are journaled upon studs n, the lower portions of the anti-friction rollers N extend-. ing slightly below the bottoms of the mold carriers so as to rest upon the bottom guide rails H. Preferably, the studs n suporting the anti-friction rollers N, have iieaded ends n projecting beyond the inner faces of the mold carriers and these headed ends 12, and studs '11 are adapted to enter corresponding seats or sockets f formed in the base portions of the o posite mold carriers. The headed ends 72/ of the bolts n and the seats f in the mold carriers thus serve to insure the accurate positioning of the mold carriers and mold sections when these parts are brought together, as shown in Fig. 2, for receiving the charge of fluid metal.

In order to secure a close union of the mold sections when, they are brought together to receive the fluid metal, I provide means for adjusting the guide rails whereby the mold carriers are sustained. Preferably, this adjustment of the guide rails H and H is effected by means of set screws P that bear against the supporting brackets K, these set screws being mounted in the threaded, upturned ends 1' of base plates Rv I whereon' the brackets K rest. Preferably,

by bolting the extended arms I) of the dam to the upper portions of the guide'rails H and, ifdesired, this dam B may be adjusted to different positions along the guide rails.

By reference more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, it will be seen that the bottoms of the mold carriers F are for-med with rack teeth F adapted to mesh with the teeth of a drive pinion T that is mounted upon a parted thereto from a pulley T or in any other convenient manner.

ive shaft t that has revolution im- Preferably, the guide rails H and H are supported in an inclined position, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and revolution will be given to the drive pinion T so as to cause the mold carriers and mold sections to travel upwardly along the inclined guide 1f when thev are between the straight portions of the guide rails H H. These link connections however, will yield to permit the ready movement of the mold sections about the curved portions of the guide rails. The gates a opening to the mold cavities a are formed in the parting lines between the two series of traveling mold sections so that the gates are only complete when the mold sections are in contact or in closed position. The upper portions of the molds form a ouring trough extending in the direction 0? the travel of the molds and parallel with the parting line thereof and extends continuously throughout the series of mold sections in contact or in closed position, so that the molten metal may be poured continuously from spout G into the trough from whence it flows through the gates 11 into the mold cavities. The position of the two series of mold sections at the slight incline to the horizontal, prevents'the escape of the molten metal. and by providinga continuous trough of this sort the metal will, after filling one mold, flow on to the next so that none of the molten metal will be lost. As the mold cavities are filled the air and gases escape from the upper portions thereof through the vents a and through the vent passages a and a. By providing peculiar vent passages described the air and gases readily escape from the upper portions of the mold and it is possible to continuously maintain a body of molten metal upon the upper pouring surface of the moldsor in the ouring trough thereof. It is highly desirab e to have the gates and vents at the partingline between the two series of traveling mold sections, since all portions of the gates and vents are fully exposed throughout the greater portion of their travel so that they may be readily cleared and cleaned out if they should become filled or partly filled with metal. It is however impractical to have the gates and vents both ocated at the parting line between the two series and opening upwardly, since then it would be impossible to continuously operate the machine because then the gates and vents would both be filled with the molten metal as it was poured into the molds. By providing the downwardly opening vents leadingfrom the 111))61 parts of the mold cavities, the gates an vents however may be located at the parting line between the two series without interfering with the continuous charging of the closed molds with metal. By having a pouring trough formed artly on one series of mold sections and part y on another, this trough is opened and closed with the molds and when in open position all parts ofits walls are fully exposed as well as the walls of the gates and vents in the parting lines between the two series of mold sections for clearing, cleaning and the like.

The straight portions of the upper and lower guide rails H H may be of any desired length, but it is desirable that the ends of the guide rails shall have a comparatively short radius so as to take up little floor space.

Portions of at least one set of guide rails opposite the points where the mold sections come into contact and are moved away from one another, are formed upon a long radius so that the mold sections will gradually approach and be gradually separated and all danger of breaking or binding of the mold sections and of the castings thus avoided. Dotted lines in Fig. 1 mark off the portions of one set of guide rails which are thus struck on relatively long and short radii. Obviously, if the radius of the guide-way at the initial point of meeting and the initial point of separation of the mold sections were only as long as the radius of the end portions of the guide-way, then the desired gradual bringing together and separation of the. mold sections could not be had unless the radius of the end portions of the guide-way were so large 'as to cause the guide-way to occupy much more space than would be desirable.

It is manifest that without departing from the broad spirit of my invention, each of the molds may be formed of more than three separable sections. Thus, for example, in the modified construction illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, I have shown two series of mold sections in which each complete mold is comprised of tour separable sections. That is to say, the intersecting parting lines between each four sections that are necessary with such construction, to form a complete mold, intersect about the center of the mold.

Of course, it is not essential that the transverse arting lines of the lI1()l(lS should come directy opposite each other, but this is a convenient arrangement, particularly where the castings to be formed are of irregular shape, such, for example, as a casting of the shape of the mold cavity indicated in Fig. 7 of the drawing. This feature of forming a mold from two moving series of separable sections, the sections being so arranged that more than two sections are necessary to comprise each complete mold, is particularly advantageous when castings of an irregular shape are to be formed, as the discharge of the castings from the molds is, by such construction. more readily eil'ected.

In Fig. 7, the four mold sections designated as A A, A and A form not only a complete mold, but the end portions of'these sections also form portions of the next succeeding molds of the series.

Having thus described my invention, what extending in the direction 0 I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A casting apparatus comprising two series of mold sections arranged to travel in closed circuits and contacting throughout a portion of their travel, said mold sections aving a number of mold cavities, each of which is formed in three or more of said sections and means. for moving said series of mold sections.

2. A casting apparatus comprising two series of connected mold sections arranged to travel in closed circuits and contacting throughout a portion of their travel, said sections having a series of mold cavities, each formed in three or more of said sections, means for driving said mold sections in unison to automatically open and close the mold cavities and means for conducting molten metal to said mold cavities.

3. A castin apparatus comprising movable molds eac formed of separable sections arranged to travel in two series, the mold sections of one series being arranged to overlap or break joint with the mold sections of the other series to form three-part molds.

4. A, casting ap aratus comprising movable molds forme of sections arranged to travel in separate series, the mold sections of the separate series being arranged to overlap or break joint to form molds having three or more parts.

5. A casting a paratus comprising separate series of mol sections arranged to travel in closed circuits and contacting throughout a portion of their travel, the sections of one series overlapping or breaking joint with the sections of the other series and each of the mold cavities therein being formed in three or more of said sections and means for operating said mold sections-in unison to automatically open and close the molds.

6. A casting apparatus comprising a number of molds formed of two se arate series of mold sections, the sections of each mold bemg arranged res ectively in the separate series and movab e together and apart and arranged to meet along a arting line to close and open the mold, sai mold sections having portionsforming a pouring trough parallel to the parting line between the sepal: rate series, substantially as described.

7. A casting apparatus comprising two separate series of mold sections, means for moving the mold sections of the separate series together and apart for automatically opening and closing the molds, the mold sections of the separate series being arranged to meet alon the parting line to close a number of the mo ds and said mold sections having portlons arranged to form a ouring trough i travel of the closed molds and continuously between two or more of said molds.

8. A casting apparatus comprising movand continuously between two 'or more of said molds, substantially as described.

9. A casting apparatus comprising two series of mold sections arranged to travel in separate closed .circuits and contacting throughout a portion of their travel, said sections having gates at their parting lines between the separate series and portions arranged to abut in closed position and forming a trough extending parallel to the arting line between the separate series and eading to two or more of said gates and means for moving said separate series of mold sections in unison.

. 10. A casting apparatus comprising two series of mold sections traveling in se arate closed circuits and contacting throng out a portion of their travel, said sections having pouring gates formed in the parting line between the separate series and having ortions on opposite sides of the parting ine arranged to abut in closed position and form a trough that extends continuously between two or more of said gates and above the mold cavities of said sections and means for mov- I ing said'separate series of mold sections in 11. A casting apparatus comprising two series of mold sections traveling in separate closed circuits and contacting throughout a portion of their travel, said sections having pouring gates formed in the parting line between the separate series and having portions on opposite sides of the parting ine arranged to abut in closed position and form a trough that extends continuously between two or more of said gates and above the mold cavities of said sections, said sections having downwardly extending vent passages in the arting line between the separate series and eading from the up er portions of the mold cavities and means i or moving the separate series of mold sections in unison.

12. A casting apparatus comprising two series of mold sections traveling in so arate closed circuits and contacting throng rout a portion of their travel to form closed molds, said sections having portions arranged to abut in closed position and form a pouring trough extending continuously between two or more of the moldsand having also vents leading from the upper portion of the mold cavities and opening at points outside of the pouring trough and means for moving said separate series of mold sections in unison. 13. A casting apparatus comprising separate series of mold sections traveling in separate endless circuits and contacting through out a portion of their travel, said sections having mold cavities and gates leading from said cavities to a pouring surface above the same and said sections having vents leading from the upper portions of the mold cavities and opening from said molds at a point below the pouring surface thereof and means for moving said separate series of mold sections in unison.

14. A casting apparatus comprising sepa: rate series of mold sections traveling in separate closed circuits and contacting throughout a portion of their travel, said mold sections having pouring gates and vents in the parting line'between the separate series, said gates opening upwardly and said vents extending downwardly and means for moving said separate series of mold sections in unison.

15. A casting apparatus comprising two series of mold sections traveling in separate closed circuits and contacting throughout a portion of their travel, said sections having suitable mold cavities and having portions abutting in closed position and arranged to form apouring trough extendin over and between two or more of said mo d cavities, said sections having pouring gates and vents in the parting line between the separate series, said gates leading from said trough to the mold cavities and said vents leading from the upper portions of the mold cavities and opening downwardly through the mold sections and means for continuously moving said separate series of mold sections in unison.

16. A casting apparatus comprising separate series of permanent mold sections traveling in separate endless circuits and contacting throughout a portion of their travel and suitable gates and vents leading from said mold cavities, said mold sections having also portions arranged to abut in closed position to form a pouring trough extending continuously between two or more of said gates and means for driving said separate series of mold sections in unison.

17. A casting apparatus comprising separate series of permanent mold sections traveling in separate endless circuits and contacting throughout a portion of their travel and suitable gates and vents leading from said mold cavities, said separate series of mold sections having portions arranged to abut in closed position to form a trough on opposite sides of the parting line between the separate series and communicating with two or more of said gates and means for driving said separate series of mold sections in umson.

18. A casting apparatus comprising sepaof mold sections being arrange rate series of permanent mold sections traveling in separate endless circuits and contacting throughout a portion of their travel and having suitable ates and vents leading from the mold cavities, said separate series of mold sections having outwardly flared, upper portions abutting in closed position to form a pouring trough on opposite sides of the parting line between the. separate series and communicating with two or more of said gates and means for driving the series of separate mold sections in unison.

19. A casting apparatus comprising separate series of mold sections traveling in separate closed circuits and in a plane slightly inclined to the horizontal, said se arate series to contact throughout a portion of their travel and having portions arranged to abut in closed osition to form a pouring trough extending 1n the direction of travel of the closed mold sections and means for moving said separate series of mold sections in unison.

20. A casting apparatus comprising a separate series of permanent mold sections traveling in separate closed circuits and contacting throughout a portion of their travel, said sections having a series of separate mold cavities and portions arranged to abut in closed position to form a pouring trough extending continuously between two or more of said mold cavities, said trough forming portions having a lining of refractor material embedded in and interlocked in t e body of said mold sections and means for moving said separate series of mold sections in unison.

21. A casting apparatus comprising a plurality of movable molds formed of sections having outwardly flared, upper portions to constitute a delivery trough extending in the direction of travel of the mold sections and a dam extending across and into said delivery trough.

22. A casting apparatus comprising separate series of mold sections traveling in separate endless circuits, contacting throughout a portion of their travel, said mold sections having a series of separate mold cavities and having also portions arranged to abut in closed position to form a pouring trough extending continuously between two or more of said mold cavities and extending also 1n.

zo'said mold carriers.

i nections between the adjacent mold sections of each series and means for driving said separate series of mold sections in unlson.

24. A casting apparatus com r1s1ng two 5 series of mold sections, guides W ereon said mold sections are arranged to travel in separate endless circuits but contacting with each other throughout a portion of their travel, yieldinghinged connections between the adjacent sections of each series and means for driving said separate series of connectedmold sections in unison.

25. A casting apparatus comprismg a plurality of molds formed of sections arranged in two series, -means for causing said mold sections to travel with their faces to ether and to be se arate'd, carriers for said mofil sec tions, yiel ing hinged connections between said mold carriers and suitable supports for 26. A casting apparatus comprising a lurality of molds formed of separable secti bns arranged in two series, means for causing said mold sections to travel with their working faces together and to be separated, carriers for said mold sections, links pivotally connecting said mold carriers, springs interposed betweensaid links and suitablesupports for said mold carriers.

27. A casting apparatus comprising separate series of connected carriers, separate, fixed, endless guide-rails arranged in the same plane whereon said carriers are mounted to travel in separate closed circuits, a numher of molds formed of separate series of mold sections fixed respectively to said separate series of carriers, the sections of each mold being arranged respectively in the separate series, and said mold sections being arranged -to meet along a parting line tact throughout a portion of their travel,

said mold sections having a series of separate mold cavities and having gates and vents leading to said mold cavities and means for driving said separate series of mold carriers in unison.

29. A casting apparatus comprising two series of separate mold sections, carrlers for said mold sections, guide rails whereon said mold carriers are mounted to move in separate endless circuits with said mold sections contactin throughout a portion of their travel, said mold sections having a series of separate mold cavities and a series ofg'ates and vents leading to said mold cavities and means for driving said separate series of mold sections in unison.

30. Acasting a paratus comprising sepa-i rate series of mold mold sections, guide railswhereon said carriers are mounted to move in separate closed circuits with said mold sections contacting throughout a portion of their travel, screws for ad'usting said guide rails, said mold sec tions fiaving a series of separate mold cavi ties and a series of gates and vents leading to said mold cavities, means for continuously driving said separate series of mold carriers in unison and means for continuously sup plying molten metal to the gates of the closed molds.

3-1. A casting a paratus comprising separate series of mol sections, carriers for said mold sections, guide rails, whereon said carriers are mounted to move in separate closed circuits with said mold sections contacting throughout a portion of their travel, antifriction rollers arranged between said carriers and said guide rails, said mold sections hav ing a series of separate mold cavities and a series of gates and vents leading to said mold cavities, -means for continuously driving the separate series of mold carriers in unison and means for continuously supplying molten metal to the gates of the closed molds.

32. A casting apparatus com rising two series of mold sections, carriers W fIGIGOH said mold sections are removably mounted, guide rails whereon said series of mold carriers are mounted to move in separate endless circuits with'said mold sections contacting throughout a portion of their travel, said mold sec tions having a series of separate mold cavities and a series of gates and vents leading to said mold cavities, means for continuously driving said separate series 'of mold carriers in unison and means for continuously supplying molten metal to the gates of the closed molds. I

, 33. A casting apparatus comprising a plurality of molds formed of separable sections, said mold sections being arranged to travel in two endless series and curved guide-ways for each series of mold sections having straight parallel sides for bringing said mold sections into contact and curved ends, one at least of said guide-ways having curved portions at the pomts of meeting and separation of said mold sections of greater radius than the curved ends thereof, substantially as described.

WILLIAM S. WESTON. Witnesses: MAE O. LINDAUER,

KATHARINE GERLAoH.

sections, carriers for said 

